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IMPROVEMENT 

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IMPROVEMENT 


I 

IN THE 


MARINER'S AND SURVEYOR’S 

COMPASS NEEDLE; 


WHEREBY 

The Magnetic and Electric Fluids are so disposed as to prevent Local 
Attractions; also, the Derangement of the Needle, by the firing of 
Cannon and other violent Concussions, may be immediately cor* 
reeled with very little inconvenience, or delay, &c. &c. 


% 

BY M. S MIT H, 

- - ^ 

Physician , Washington City. 


NEW-YORK: 

R. Tyrell, Printer, 26 Vesey*st. 



1834 





730 























AM 


IMPROVEMENT 

ON TUX 

MARINER’S AND SURVEYOR’S 

COMPASS NEEDLE. 


The author’s Improvement of the Compass Needle is the result of many years* 
ioquirv, and intense investigation of the laws of the science termed magnetism , and 
its close connexion with that of electricity and galvariism , and then joint influence and 
effects in the government of the needle. 

In consequence of the little knowledge that had been shed upon the world on this 
subject, he labored under many inconveniences and embarrassments, but, by repeated 
experiments, at length arrived at the desired result of making and charging a Compass 
Needle in such a manner as to enable the navigator and survev or to direct their course 
with unerring ceitainty. This discovery will, no doubt, be duly estimated by all those 
who are sensible that most of the needles in common use, differ with each other in their 
directive course, and show a very irregular variation from the true meridian. In 
consequence of this variation, many ships, with cargoes of immense value, have 
doubtless been lost. By means of this improved needle, a number of disputed land- 
claims have been satisfactorily settled, thereby saving troublesome and expensive 
litigation. 

When it is considered that the most scientific have but an imperfect view of the 
laws of magnetism, it would be absurd to suppose that every manufacturer of compass 
needles should possess the knowledge requisite to regulate the government of this 
subtile, mysterious matter. In addition to the imperfection of the common neeoles, 
arising from their ill construction, it may be observed, that they are sometimes made 
of improper materials. Of about one hundred compasses put in charge of the 
author, by order of the Board of Navy Commissioners, for the purpose of being 
furnished with his improved needles, twelve of those they then contained were made 
of iron, and which are now tn his possession. 

Without further remark at present, the author proceeds to lay before the public 
testimony of the highest order, in confirmation of his claims to the improvement 
set forth. 


Letter from Ed. P. Kennedy, Captain U. S. Navy. 

•- “ United States Frigate Java, , 

Hampton Roads , May 15, 1831. 

** Sir, I have given your improved Compass Needle full proof, during my stormy 
trip in the Brandywine Frigate, to Mahon from this Rnadsteri, and I have no hesita¬ 
tion in declaring, that the improvement you have made in the mariner's compass 




needle, with the shifting feeders, the electric or eoncussioa rod, is of very great im¬ 
portance to navigators. I had many compasses on board, and, as usual, all disagreed, 
and bv a single stroke with the electric rod, they all agreed and were restored to their- 
magnetic power. I feel very confident that all those who may nse your needles, will 
give a decided preference to them, and in a short time no other needles will be in 
use. Your obedient serv’t, EDM’D. P. KENNEDY. 

“ P. S. Request the Commissioners to let you have a copy of my report to them, 
it is fuller. E* P- K.” 

The author, now in New-York, regretsthat he has not at hand a copy of this report. 
He is informed that, since his absence from the seat of government, several similar 
reports from Navy Officers have oeen transmitted to the Board of Commissioners. 
These, perhaps, may hereafter be laid before the public. 


Letter from Professor F. R. Hassler, who is at present in the employ of the government, 
in surveying the coasts of the United States. 

“ Sir: As the statement of my opinions on the peculiarities of your magnetic needle 
is said to be lost. I comply with your wish to state here again the opinion which 1 have 
formerly given upon it. The application of a rim at the end of the needle, near to 
the place from which it is pointed off. will, by the principles of the magnet, have the 
effect of gathering the various deviating partial magnetic directions, which always 
exist, more or less, in a needle, and therefore give it more centrality and steadiness. 

“ This same collection of the partial magnetic directions will also tend to lessen the 
influence that may come in proximity to the needle, and therefore such substances may 
be near to the needle without influencing its direction. The striking of the needle, as 
well as any other concussion, will change its magnetic power or direction, according 
to the manner in which it is done, either favorably or unfavorably:—therefore, a 
magnetic needle that may happen to be disordered, can, by a proper stroke, be brought 
again to its proper bearing. 

“ Experience has, it appears from your statement, taught to you the proper manner 
of applying this to the restoration of the proper magnetic direction in a disordered 
needle. This application is very good, and of course very useful, paiticularly incases 
where access to other means to restore the needle would not he at hand, as on borad 
of ships. &,c. 

“ Both these improvements are therefore, according to my opinion, good and useful; 
thence, worth introducing into practice. With best wishes, your ob’t serv’t, 

“ F. R. HASSLER. 

“To Mr. M. Smith, tVashington City. Nov. 16, 1831.” 


Extract of remarks made by the editor of the Franklin Institute, a periodical publica¬ 
tion in Philadelphia, on the Mechanic Arts, Manufactures, and all useful Patented 
Inventions, and general Science. 

“ It is well known, that from the firing of cannon, and violent concussions of othex 
kinds, the magnetism of the compass needle becomes deranged or confused, in which 
state it will generally he found to have several, instead of only two poles; and its 
directive power is consequently destroyed. In the experiments exhibited to us by Mr. 
Smith, he took a needle, the directive power of which was perfect; he struck it a 
moderate blow, and it became deranged; on striking it transversely its power was in¬ 
stantaneously, and perfectly restored; this he repeated several times. He then placed 
it on a table, held it firmly down, in the manner described in his specification, and by 




striking the table produced effects analogous to those which resulted from striking the 
needle itself. This instantaneous mode of restoring the magnetic power, whtch was 
new to us. may, it is manifest, be of incalculable importance, particularly at sea, where 
the safetv of all on board a vessel frequently depends upon the good order of the 

•Ofnpass needle. 

“ Mr. Smith avers, that in all cases of accidental disturbance of the magnetic 
power his method is effectual, and he appeared to be borne out by his experiments.— 
W itb respect io what ne calls his feeders, he believes himself justified by long continued 
observation, in concluding, that they protect the needle from foreign attractions, and 
increase i's directive power. They are now in a fair way of being tested, as there 
are some of them on board of our ships of war. Mr. Hassler, whose judgment in 
■uc'i cases is well known to every man of science, is very favorably impressed in re¬ 
gard to their operation, and has given a testimonial to that effect; and several other 
gentlemen conversant wiih this subject, anticipate much advantage from Mr. Smith’s 
inquiries.”— Vol. vn. Feb. 1831.—./Vo 2. 

The author, with the hope of inducing the government to pay a compensation for 
bis improvement of the needle, proportionate, in some measure, to the advantages that 
would aris** from it, on the 3d of Jan. 1832, petitioned the House of Representatives 
to that effect. The petition was referred to the Committee of Commerce; which, be¬ 
fore ac'mg on the subject, obtained the following certificate from Mr Elliot, who was 
ohief surveyor in adjusting the latitude and longitude of the City of Washington, and 
ixmg the meridian for the capital. 

. “ Washington , Feb. 14 th, 1832. 

“ This is to certify that [ have carefully examined two of Mr. Smith’s magnetic 
•eedies with a true meridional line, and find them very perfect. With regard to the 
** slides” for correcting the variations, &c. I know nothing of the theory, and therefore 
pun give no opinion ;—all I mean to say is, that the needles are very active, and 
point out the magnetic meridian very accurately. ^ WILLIAM ELLIOT.” 


On the 20th of Feb. the Committee made the following Report* 

4 ‘ The Committee of Commerce, to whom was referred the petition of MOSES 
SMITH, have examined his improvement for adjusting the polarity of the needle in 
manner’s compass. Tho* simple in its character—they have no doubt of its great 
utility to mariners, and that the discovery is worthy the patronage of the Navy 
department.”—Read and concurred in by the House.' 

' “ JVavy Department , 2 6th Nov. 1832. 

“ Sir: Your letter of the 7th inst. has been received, and in reply have to state that 
I am happy to find that your improvement of the mariner’s and surveyor’s compass 
needles are approved by the Navy Hoard, and shall be pleased to aid in their adoption 
in the Navy, on all suitable occasions. I am, very respectfully, your ob’t serv’t, 

“ Doct. M. Smith.” “LEVI WOODBURY. 

It will be seen, by reference to Capt. Kennedy’s letter, that the improved needle had 
been, for a considerable time, in use aboard some of our public ships. And it is due 
to Com. Rodgers, for the author here to remark, that on his first presenting his needle 
to the Board of Navy Commissioners, and making a few experiments upon it, the 
Commodore instantly perceived the great advantage that would result from the im¬ 
provement, and recommended its immediate adoption by the Board. Its introdoction 




into the Navy, therefore, is deemed to be owing, in a great measure, to the warm 
interest he took in its behalf. 

At the date of the following document, two new Commissioners had been appointed 
to the Board, and, for their satisfaction, still further experiments were deemed desirable 
to test the superiority of the improved needle. 

Letter from Lieut. Charles Wilkes to Com. Rodgers. 

“ Washington , 206*1 May , 1833. 

« Sir, I have the honor to report, agreeably to your instructions relative to the ex. 
amination of the improved needles of Doct. Smith, that I have had them f or some time 
past under examination, and have carefully tested their qualities by a variety of 
experiments, and believe them to be very superior to the common needles now in use. 

“ In the manufacture of the common needles, there has always been great neglect, 
both in providing a suitable material and adopting a regular form, it being left, for the 
most part to the convenience and fancy of the workmen, and the size and shape, of the 
material, which is no doubt one of the main causes of the discrepancies observed in 
their actions and results. 

** This is very far from being the case with the needles manufactured by Dr. Smith. 
he has adopted a form which he has found, by long experience, to be the most fit, and 
most tenaciously adheres to it. His material is of the first quality, ann carefully 
worked; great attention being paid to magnetising it. He also supplies his needle 
with what he calls feeders— soft pieces of iron that shoe on it, placed near its ends, 
thereby concentrating all the small magnets (which exist more or less) near its points, 
giving more steadiness and a greater directive power to his needles, and avoiding, in a 
great degree, the local attraction to which needles may be subjected. 1 ascertained 
this last to my entire satisfaction, by subjecting the same needle, with and without the 
feeders, to the same attractive force in the following manner, viz. One of his needles 
was suspended on a fine point, placed in the centre of a number of concentric circles 
drawn around it, half an inch apart, on a table. When the needle was approached, 
armed with its feeders, I found I could approach much nearer to it with an attractive 
force without disturbing it, than when it was unarmed, or without the feeders. The 
difference I found was generally about two of the circles, or an inch, when the 
body approached was a strong magnet, and a much greater force to cause deviation, 
than they would be ever subject to on shipboard: proving, conclusively, that they 
were a protection or security against local attraction ; and this security appeared to he 
in proportion as the feeders were placed near to or farther from the centre of the 
needle. The feeders appeared in some cases too small, the proportion between the 
feeder and needle not being, in my opinion, as yet well ascertained. The needles are 
remarkably active, and possess much more directive power than those of the common 
kind now in use, (with which they were compared,) when drawn aside, settling again 
very quickly on the magnetic meridian. 

“ Doct. Smith’s manner of restoring deranged needles, by concussion with his 

Electric Rod,” is simple and effective by one who is experienced—he seldom or ever 
failed himself; but I am not able to impute to myself so much adroitness in applying 
the proper degree of force required I am disposed to think, by a little practice, it may 
be easily acquired ; one thing is most certain, it is a manner of restoring a deranged 
needle, so simple and in the possession of all, that when once known, few will ba 
willing to leave it untried. 

“ 1 beg leave to add, that I feel indebted to Doct. Smith, for the obliging manner 


in which he has shewn me the whole process of manufacturing his needles, and satis¬ 
fying my inquiries, and feel confidence in recommending him to your notice, believing, 
from the trials and tests to which 1 have subjected his needles, that they are a valuable 
improvement, and highly deserving your patronage. With great respect, &c. 

(Signed) “CHARLES WILKES, Jun. 

“ Lieut. XJ. S. JVavy, 

“ To Com. John Rodgers.” ** Attached to Depot Inspect. 

&c. dec. 


“ The Committee appointed by the Chamber of Commerce to examine the Improved 
Compass Needles, invented and constructed by Dr. Smith, respectfully report, That 
they nave given the subject the consideration its importance merits, and are of opinion 
that the needles of Dr. Smith are superior, in many respects, to those in common use: 

1st, A tier a close and critical examination, not only with a test needle, but by in¬ 
vesting the needle under trial itself, it was found that the magnetic axis coincided 
wuh the axis of trie needle ; it must therefore, in all cases, point to the true magnetic 
norm, wlucn is far from being the case with needles in common use. 

“ 2d, The directive power of the needle was found to be greater than that of other 
needles subjected to experiments at the same time. 

3d, By means of guards of soft iron, the separate poles that always exist in all 
magnatised bars of steel, are brought into magnetic communication; these guards must 
also nave tne effect of sustaining the magnetic power of the needle, and making it less 
api to lose its polarity when in service. On this last point your Committee, of course 
can only express an opinion, and leave the absolute proof of this property to be made 
upon needles mat nave been in use at sea. 

“ in addition to the results obtained from the use of the guards, the qualities of Dr. 
Smiih’s needles appear to be owing to their form, and to the manner in which they are 
manufactured. The form being a bar pointed at each end, and having a groove cut 
beneath, for nearly the whole length, is such as would be most likely to cause the prin¬ 
cipal magnetic axis of the needle to coincide with the line joining the two extremities. 

“It has, in this respect, the same properties with the needle of Kater, which is usually 
admitted to be the best that has been hitherto used.^ The manufacture of the bars by 
rolling, instead of hammering, is also seen to be beneficial, inasmuch as partial mag¬ 
netism is given by the hammer that must influence the direction to which the needle 
shall point when suspended. 

“ Your committee have also examined the method proposed by Dr. Smith for re¬ 
storing me magnetism of compass needles, in case it should be lost at sea. This 
method is founded upon correct principles, is easily acquired in practice, and must be 
generally successful in effecting the proposed end. 

, “ The Committee regret that they cannot coincide with Dr. Smith in opinion, that 
his guard will effectually do away the influence of local attraction. The experiments 
performed by them have rather had the effect of convincing- them that he is in 
error in this opinion. As, nowever, he maintains it with great zeal, and brings to its 
support both argument and experiment, it would be desirable that an experiment upon 
a large scale, under the very circumstances that would .occur in the service. This 
might ne done hy mooring a ship in our harbor, and taking the bearings of objects on 
•hore, while the vessel was veered around by means of springs on her cables. As 
there is no doubt that losaeg of property and life do frequently occur, froiruhe influence 



af local attraction on ships’ compasses, your Committee are of opinion that such ajj 
experiment might be well worth the trial; and should Dr. Smith’s views be correct, 
(although the Committee must say they fear it may not prove so.) one of the most im¬ 
portant desiderata in navigation will have been attained. All which is respectfully 
submitted. 

New-York, 28th Nov. 1833. 

0 Signed ) ABRAHAM OGDEN, 

JAMES REN WICK, 

SILAS HOLMES, 

“ Copy—Attest, Committee. 

John R. Hurd, 

“ Secretary of the Chamber of Commerce. New- York, Dec. 3, 1833.” 

. Professor Renwick, who drafted the foregoing Report, stands high, and no doubt 
deservedly, in the ranks of science ; and the author feels under great obligaiion for ih® 
candor with which he treats the subject The report, however, states, that “ The 
Committee regret that they cannot coincide with Dr. Smith in opinion, tnat his guard® 
will effectually do away the influence of local attraction.” On this point, the Com¬ 
mittee are respectfully referred to the precise and accurate experiments marie by 
Lieut. Wilkes, hy order of the Navy Board; also to the letter of the scientific and 
practical surveyor, Professor Hassler, who says, “ The application of a rim at the end 
of the needle, near to the place from which it is pointed off. will, by the principles of 
the magnet , have the effect of gathering the various deviating partial magnetic directions, 
which always exist, more or less, in a needle, and therefore give it more centrality aui 
steadiness.” 

Professor Hassler was engaged in making experiments with the improved needle 
through the course of a week. He would not give an opinion on such a subject with¬ 
out thorough investigation In fact, the author is confident in asserting, that the prin¬ 
ciple here contended for, is fully established, and no longer remains a matter ol doubt. 
Learned men very naturally reject new hypotheses till well tested and clearly proved, 
and perhaps sometimes too pertinaciously oppose evidence entitled to respect. 

The improved needles are all manufactured in Washington City, under the imme¬ 
diate inspection of the author, or, in his absence, under the care of his son. Dr B. M, 
Smith, who alone possess the knowledge of charging .hem with a solar magnet, 
which aids in giving them their superiority. Also, in preparing them in such a man¬ 
ner as to resist, in a great measure, the influence of the various changes of the weather^ 
and entirely to prevent injury arising from rust, to which tne common needles are 
very subject. 

Agencies will soon be appointed in all the large seaport towns of the United Statep, 
for the sale of these needles, supplied with boxes, or provided the purchasers furnish 
boxes, they will be fitted to them; but, in no case will they be sold without being hung 
and fitted for sea by the proprietors or their agents.. At present, applications must b® 
made as above, or, in New-York, to John Fellows. Improved Dipping needles wifi 
also soon he furnished. 

Rich. U. Marsters, Mathematical Instrument Maker, &c. corner of William-street, 
and Hanover square, will supply needles and boxes properly prepared. 


New-York, Jan. 6,1834. 


f 

COURSE OF LECTURES 

UPON THE 

STRUCTURE OF THE EARTH: 

BY PROFESSOR B. SIEMMAIV, 

OF YALE COLLEGE. 


Principal Points to be illustrated in the successive 
Lectures. 

A. Elementary constitution of the earth. 

B. Mineral masses and order of arrangement, 

C. Natural associations of minerals. 

D. Organic contents of the strata,—both ani/nal and 

vegetable. 

E. The records of life, from sea-weeds and shells, in 

the deep-seated strata, up to forests and man, on 
the surface. 

F. The order of time, in which organic beings have 

been created. 

Q. The secondary powers which, as agents of the Cre¬ 
ator, have produced the present condition of the 
earth. 

H. Practical applications of geology in architecture, ag¬ 
riculture, engineering, and domestic economy. 

/. Moral uses in proving the existence of God and illus¬ 
trating his attributes. 

J\ The Genesis proved by geology to be a true history. 



ELEVENTH LECTURE.— February 27, 1852. 


Tertiary strata resumed. 

Catacombs of Paris. 

Tertiary of Italy, of Massachusetts, New Jersey, Mai 
Virginia, &c. 

Shell rock of Florida. 

Beds of oyster shells in the interior. 

Forests of the tertiary era. 

Lignite; buried wood; submerged forests. 

River rafts. Future tertiary strata. 

Opposite effects of the floods of the Mississippi and McF < 
The history of animals resumed. 

Local creation of animals both of early and recent eras. 

The earliest mammalia hitherto found. 

Miscellaneous notices of early terrestrial animals. 

Elephas primigenius. Hippopotamus. 

Dinotherium and Megatherum, mentioned again. 

Rhinoceros and mammoth frozen in Siberia. 

Cetacea. Zyglodon of Alabama. 

Irish elk, ox*horse, carnivora, fossil fox. 

Fossil remains in the Himalaya mountains; i. e. sivthc 
mastodon, elephant, hippotamus, rhinoceros, horse, c 
giraffe, ox, antelope, struthous birds, carnivora, crocodiles 
gavials, immense tortoise, monkeys. 

Living quadrumana. ourang outang, chimpanzee of Africc 
Man introduced. 







